 |
| Thursday, October 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Sharma denies being sidelined Sangh Parivar brokers peace in BJP 7 die as bus falls
into gorge HP to give more power to panchayats CJI’s stress on development |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
OBCs demand hike in reservation Slate quarrying to resume Over Rs 5 lakh
offered at Bajreshwari
|
|
Sharma denies being sidelined SHIMLA, Oct 4 — The almost week long silence on Congress organisational elections in Himachal Pradesh was broken today when the chairman of the election authority, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao and one of its member, Mr
K.D. Sultanpuri, came out with a statement claiming that they had not sidelined Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, a senior member of the authority. The provocation for the statement were news reports claiming the duo had sidelined Mr Mangat Ram Sharma while conducting organisational elections. The three-member state election authority includes Mr Rao, Mr Sharma and Mr Sultanpuri. The statement, which also includes signatures of Mr Sharma, claimed that all the three were united and discussed PCC election issues before taking these to Mr Ram Niwas Mirdha, chairman of the central election authority. The election authority had come in for criticism for pulling the election process in different directions culminating in Mr Rao allegedly making objectionable remarks against Mr Virbhadra Singh at Hamirpur and Palampur. He, however, denied the comments when confronted by senior Congressmen at Mandi. There were also allegations that Mr Sharma was seldom consulted by Mr Rao and Mr Sultanpuri, who refused to accept his recommendation on the appointment of four additional assistant returning officers at places where one of the factions apprehended that fair elections might not be possible under the assistant returning officers appointed earlier. They were also accused of rejecting the result of the Kasumpti area declared by the district returning officer when allegations were made that the ARO had been absent. The Virbhadra Singh faction has reportedly identified at least 18 places where elections were allegedly rigged by the other faction which claims proximity to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi. Subsequently several legislators expressed virtual “no confidence” in Mr Rao and Mr
Sultanpuri, whom they accused of openly siding with the other faction. While returning to Jammu, Mr Sharma faced an angry mob of partymen protesting against the election irregularities in
Kangra. They forced Mr Sharma to hold elections in his presence and alleged that the ARO had announced the list of “successful” candidates from the residence of a senior party leader of the area without conducting a poll. |
|
Sangh Parivar brokers peace in BJP SHIMLA, Oct 4 — The Sangh Parivar has taken the initiative to end the factional fight in the ruling BJP. The parivar arranged a meeting between Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, and Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, here to resolve the issues leading to dissidence in the party. Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, state BJP chief who was away to New Delhi, was not present at the meeting held at Oakover, the official residence of the Chief Minister, on Monday. A senior functionary of the RSS, who was present at the meeting, impressed upon the two leaders to evolve a mechanism to settle the grievances of legislators at the state level so that they did not have to go to the high command. He also underlined the need for frequent interaction between the two leaders to bridge the communication gap which led to differences. He also expressed concern over the reports in the media regarding dissidence in the party and urged the leaders to ensure that party matters were not raised publicly. Mr Shanta Kumar reportedly said that he was preoccupied with his responsibilities at the Centre and did not have much to do with the happenings in the party in the state. Grievances, if any, should be settled directly between the Chief Minister and the legislator concerned. The meeting seems to have had the desired effect as Mr Dhumal, Mr Shanta Kumar and Mr Suresh Chandel, former state party chief, were seen together not only at public functions subsequently, but also strolled through The Mall to send the message of unity. The Sangh Parivar has been perturbed over the recent happenings in the party which could have serious implications for the stability of the coalition. Differences in the party came out into the open when some party legislators and ministers boycotted the official party dinner after the recent meeting of the office-bearers. Later, the dissidents also went to Delhi and met central leaders to air their grievances. It remains to be seen what follow-up action is taken to redress the grievances of the dissidents. The forthcoming meeting of the party’s state executive at Chintpurni on October 14 and 15 will provide an indication to this effect. |
|
HP to give more power to panchayats SHIMLA, Oct 4 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, has said the endeavour of the government is to make the Panchayati Raj system in Himachal Pradesh a model in the country. A beginning in this regard has been made by the massive devolution of powers to this grassroot institution of democracy. He was speaking at the concluding session of the two-day state-level workshop on ‘Panchayati Raj in New Millennium’ organised by the Church Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) here today. The Chief Minister said that the government would strengthen the Panchayati Raj institutions in the state by giving them more powers so that need-based development is ensured. The devolution of powers to the panchayats would put more responsibilities on the representatives of panchayats and they would also have to exercise their powers judiciously to deliver the goods. He said the panchayats have been authorised to prepare micro-plans and given powers to supervise grassroot functionaries. They had also been provided necessary staff to enable them to function effectively. The government was also considering to give them powers to write the annual confidential reports of these functionaries to ensure proper control on them. The Chief Minister announced the opening of a cell in the Panchayati Raj Department which would respond to the problems and inquiries of the Panchayati Raj institutions expeditiously. He said these institutions could play a significant role in implementing various social and developmental programmes and urged them to play a pivotal role in educating people about family welfare programmes as increasing population was posing a threat to society. The Chief Minister said the government would give a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh to the panchayat which does good work in implementing health programmes. Besides, Rs 3 lakh would be given to one panchayat of each assembly constituency which has the maximum population of Scheduled Castes for developing public amenities. He said nine panchayats in the state would be given special prize of Rs 5 lakh in which students would get scholarships under the Ambedkar Meritorious Students Scholarships Scheme and other such schemes. This amount be utilised for the development of the panchayat. The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh was perhaps the first state in the country which had made norms of two children family compulsory for seeking election to the panchayati raj institutions, but this would not be applicable retrospectively. |
|
CJI’s stress on development KASAULI, Oct 4 — The Chief Justice of India, Mr Justice A.S. Anand, has stressed the need for integrated development of an individual in all spheres, including moral, physical, spiritual and mental for attaining meaningful education. A positive attitude, sound behavour, character and discipline together with decency and decorum are the qualities which fulfil the purpose of education. He said education is not just acquiring knowledge but also using it for the benefit of mankind. He was speaking on the occasion of the 153rd founder’s day celebration of Lawrence School, Sanawar, near here. People are ignorant about the rich cultural heritage of the country. The purpose of imparting education should also focus on inculcating these values in the youngsters who are the future of our country, he added. Annual athletic meet, exhibition and the tattoo where the students took part in gymnastics, karate, folk dance, mass P.T. were the highlights of the celebration. Mr Justice Anand praised the students for a lively display of school band. Mrs Mala Anand gave away prizes to the students. The trophy for excellence in academics was bagged by Nilgiri House. An old students’ march past was also part of the show in which Mr Rarrewala of the 1953 batch, the oldest Sanawarian present also participated. |
|
OBCs demand hike in reservation DHARAMSALA, Oct 4 — The Himachal Pradesh Other Backward Class Youth Organisation has threatened the government that if it does not fulfil its promise of increasing the reservation for the OBCs they will launch a statewide agitation. In a statement issued here yesterday, the general secretary of the organisation, Mr Devender Chaudhary, said to lodge their protest against the delaying tactics of the government on the issue, they would hold a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner on October 13. He added that ever since the formation of the Dhumal government in the state there had been no increase in reservation, which was made 18 per cent by Mr Virbhadra Singh. He strongly refuted the claims of the BJP government that they had increased the reservation from 15 to 18 per cent. The decision to launch an agitation on the issue was taken at a meeting of the organisation held on Monday at Mataur. The function organised to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the organisation was attended by former minister Chaudhary Hardyal, a former MLA, Capt Pratap Chaudhary, and a Zila Parishad member, Mr Ved Chaudhary. Representatives of the OBCs from various parts of the district were also present. It was demanded that the procedure of obtaining the OBC certificate should be made simple. It was also decided that a request would be made to the government to undertake census of the OBCs. Those present resented the move of the government to add more castes to the OBC list without increasing the reservation limit. |
|
7 die as bus falls
into gorge
SHIMLA, Oct 4 (UNI) — Seven persons were killed and 82 others injured, 10 of them seriously, when a private bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh fell into a 60-foot-deep gorge near Barwain in Una district last evening. The bodies are being identified. Fiftytwo of the injured have been admitted to the district hospital at Una and 25 to the health centre at
Chintpurni. |
|
Slate quarrying to resume DHARAMSALA, Oct 4 — Decks have been cleared for the resumption of slate quarrying in Khaniyara, as the much-awaited nod from the Ministry of Forest and Environment has been sent to the state government. According to sources, the Ministry of Forest Environment sent in its approval, last week, subject to certain conditions. It was on February 24, 1998, that the case for allowing quarrying in 25 hectares in Khaniyara, was sent to the Centre by the state Forest Department. The issue was very crucial as the livelihood of over 10,000 people was directly and indirectly, dependent on slate mining. Though the approval for diversion of land for mining activity has been granted under the Forest Conservation Act, but it will take a few more months, before extraction of slates can start, with due permission of the Mining Department. The Mining Department has already been given no objection certificates (NOC) by the PWD, Revenue, IPH, and the state Pollution Control Board. The only hitch in resumption of quarrying was the clearance by the Ministry of Forest and Environment. It is learnt that the approval has been granted in principle, with a few conditions like compensatory afforestation by the user agency, which in this case will be the Industrial Department. A few other conditions like the submission of the environment management plan by the Industries Department, has also been laid down. It is being felt that mining can finally begin only after the compliance report of compensatory afforestation and depositing of money is sent and the environment management plan, is prepared. So far about 115 persons have applied for the NOC, to the mining department, to undertake slate quarrying. It is only the 25 hectares area, falling in the catchment zone of the Manjhi and Manuni Khud that will be thrown open to mining. This will comprise of zone-A and zone-B, while the Thatarna area, which has lush green vegetation has been left out. As per the committee set up by the state government to look into the mining aspect here, only the Khaniyara area will be open to mining. The area of Yol, Narwana and Bhagsu, has not been found suitable for mining for a number of reasons like the fragile topography, tourism and the minable mineral being exhausted. Moreover, the slopes in the Yol area have been found to be too steep for safe mining. Even in the 25 hectare area, being thrown open to mining, certain pockets, which have fear of collapsing due to rat hole mining and unscientific extraction, will be closed. The NOCs will be issued by the Industries Department in favour of the mining lessees. The ban on mining had been imposed by the Supreme Court, due to undertaking of non forest activity in forest area, under the Forest Conservation Act. Commercial mining of slates is learnt to have been started in Khaniyara in the year 1867 when Kangra valley slate company was started by Mr Shaw. Over 10,000 people, including minelabourers, mule owners, truck owners, small shopkeepers and others had been severely hit by the ban. The ban had been imposed without providing an alternative jobs to these people, who had been dependent on it for generations. |
|
Over Rs 5 lakh
offered at Bajreshwari KANGRA, Oct 4 — More than 50,000 pilgrims from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and other areas visited the famous Shakti peeths of Bajreshwari here during the first seven days of Sharad Kalin Navratras, official sources said here today. The Sharad Kalin Navratras which started on September 28, will conclude on the eve of Ram Navami on Friday. The audhorities expect more than 50,000 more pilgrims to visit Bajreshwari Temple during the next two days. The SDM, Mr R.L. Rao, said here today that parking places had been identified and accommodation was made available to the piligrims. He said over Rs 5 lakh in cash had been offered at the temple during the first six days of the Navratras. The pilgrims also visited the temple of Chamunda, 20 km from here, to seek the blessings of Goddess Chamunda during the
Navratras.
|
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
